Yusril: KPK Does Not Yet Need to Take Over Febrie Case from AGO
Coordinating Minister for Legal, Immigration, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra is of the view that the KPK does not yet need to take over the investigation into the alleged corruption case implicating former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes Febrie Adriansyah from the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung).
He acknowledged that the KPK does have the authority to take over a case. However, in this particular case, Yusril believes such a step is not yet necessary.
“Hopefully the process stays on track, and for the time being the KPK does not need to take over this investigation,” Yusril said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday (20 July).
Yusril explained that the KPK does indeed have the authority to take over corruption cases from other law-enforcement agencies, but that this is subject to a number of conditions.
Referring to Law No. 19 of 2019 in conjunction with Law No. 30 of 2002 on the KPK, there are several requirements the KPK must meet before taking over a case.
First, if the investigation is deemed to be dragging on; if it involves law-enforcement officials; if the case attracts wide public attention; and if the case involves a value exceeding Rp1 billion.
Yusril also called on all parties to jointly safeguard the legal process running in this case.
“Once all the evidence has been gathered, the Attorney General’s Office can go ahead and refer the case to the Corruption Court,” he said.
Febrie has been ensnared in an alleged corruption case. On Friday (17 July), Febrie was questioned by the Attorney General’s Office in his capacity as a suspect.
The Head of the Attorney General’s Office Legal Information Centre, Anang Supriatna, said Febrie’s suspect status relates to the Asabri corruption and money-laundering case.
The Attorney General’s Office has issued three new investigation warrants (Sprindik) related to the alleged corruption and money-laundering cases implicating Febrie.
The three warrants concern corruption and money-laundering offences involving PT Krakatau Steel; the procurement of coal for PLN power plants that resulted in the blackout; and the Asabri case.
Besides Febrie, investigators have also named a private individual, Don Ritto, as a suspect in the case. Don Ritto is suspected of money laundering proceeds derived from corruption.
Meanwhile, Febrie is suspected of involvement in alleged corruption and/or money-laundering offences in the legal handling of state officials in the PT Asabri case and other suspected corruption cases.
In addition, the Attorney General’s Office has formed a special team of nine senior prosecutors, the majority of whom previously served at the KPK.
These prosecutors are said not to be putting up resistance or rejecting the corruption case that has ensnared Febrie.